8 March 2019
This year’s Singers’ Platform focused on the work of a group of eight of Abingdon’s most able and committed singers aged between 13 to 18. Between them they presented a range of repertoire from the 18th to 20thcenturies. As in previous years, Andrew Yeats, Abingdon School’s singing teacher, accompanied all the performances and directed proceedings from the piano.
The first half opened with Jack Harvey singing Something’s Coming from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Tristan Tonks followed with Ol’ Man River from Jerome Kern’s musical, Showboat, demonstrating his rich bass range. Later in the programme he sang Aufenthalt from Schubert’s song cycle, Schwanengesang (Swansong).
Owen Ravden sang two songs – by Tchaikovsky (Believe or not, my Friend) and Purcell’s sublime Music for a While. Owen’s musicality shone through every phrase. Harry Horsnell was next, singing Qui Sedes from Vivaldi’s Gloria, with great conviction.
Jamie Robson, a former New College Chorister, whose voice has now settled to a sonorous baritione gave us a taste of some of the repertoire he is about to deliver as part of his ARSM singing diploma. These included Betrachte from the St Matthew Passion by Bach, O del mio from Gluck, Ständchen, another song from Schubert’s Schwanengesang and Proud Songsters by Gerald Finzi.
Andreas Lo sang a group of songs including Quia Fecit from Bach’s Magnificat, Automne by Fauré, another Tchaikovsky song, At the Ball and Tippett’s curious setting of Where the Bee Sucks. Next, sixth former, Alex Glover sang a couple of songs – Se vuol Ballare from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, and If thou wilt Ease thine Heart by Benjamin Britten.
Sixth former, David Bicarregui, was at his musically committed best in two wonderfully impassioned and dramatic renditions of opera arias including Durante’s Danza, danza, fanciulla gentile and Bellini’s Vi Ravviso from Sonnambula (Sleeping Beauty).
The audience enjoyed another marvellous Singers’ Platform. As ever, our thanks go to Andrew Yeats for his inspired teaching of his many students, his excellent piano accompaniment and to all the singers for a hugely enjoyable 50 minutes of music.
